Kenneth F. Raffa
Dept. Entomology, UW-Madison
Forest Insect Ecology
Program Overview
- Research
- Teaching
- Curriculum Vita
- Students & Associates
- Lab Life
- Home
Former Graduate Students and Postdocs of Ken Raffa
- Graduate Students
- PostDoctoral Research Associates
- Selected Awards and Recognition to Graduate Students Under Ken Raffa's Supervision
Graduate Students
Graduate Students
Brian 'Howie' Aukema
Nicole Broderick
Sylvio 'Chip' Codella
Nadir Erbilgin
Nathan Havill
Kirsten Haberkern
Richard Hofstetter
Rebecca Hoffman Gray
Alex Kendrick
Kier Klepzig
Steven Krause
James Kruse
Renee Pinski
Jaimie Powell
Lynne Rieske
Daniel Robison
Kimberley Wallin
Shahla Werner
Post Doctoral Research Associates
Brian Aukema
Yasmin Cardoza
Italo Delalibera
Kenneth Hobson
George Hoffman
David Hunt
Brian Kopper
Raman Ramachandran
Scott Salom
Archana Vasanthakumar
Brian ‘Howie’ Aukema conducted his MS on the application of chemical ecology to the biological control of bark beetles. He demonstrated that carefully selected combinations and timing of specific pheromone components could be used to reduce inadvertent removal of predators during semiochemically based trap out, and to improve quantitative sampling. He conducted his research in collaboration with Prof. Donald Dahlsten at UC-Berkeley. Brian completed a doctorate in entomology on predator-bark beetle interactions, and a MS in Biometry on spruce beetle-fungal interactions in Alaska. He was received the outstanding graduate student award of the Western Forest Insect Work Conference. He then completed a postdoctoral associate in Ken Raffa's lab, and with the Canadian Forest Service with Allan Carroll. Brian is currently a research scientist with the Canadian Forest Service, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Northern British Columbia, in Prince. George. 250-960-5924. baukema@pfc.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca We have several ongoing collaborations on the population dynamics of bark beetles.
Nichole Broderick did an independent undergraduate study on the synergism of Btk activity on gypsy moth by an antibiotic, zwittermicin A. She subsequently completed a MS on the microbial community of the lepidopteran midgut. Nichole's research was in collaboration with Profs. Jo Handelsman and Robert Goodman, UW-Plant Pathology. She is conducted her Ph.D. in Ken Raffa's lab, with a joint major in microbiology under the direction of Jo Handelsman, on environmental and developmental factors affecting the midgut flora of Lepidoptera. She is currently a Postdoctoral Associate at the Global Health Institute in Lausanne, Switzerland1 (0-2 16 93 18 33) nichole.broderick@epfl.ch
Sylvio ‘Chip’ Codella conducted his Ph.D. research on factors affecting the ability of sawflies to defend themselves against ant predators using chemicals sequestered from host conifers. He quantified the effects of plant chemistry, larval density & size, and ant responses in determining the outcome of sawfly - ant encounters. He did extensive field work in northwestern Wisconsin. He was awarded a Sigma Xi grant. He is currently Associate Professor in the Biology Department at Kean College, New Jersey; (908) 527-2464.
Nadir Erbilgin conducted his Ph.D. research on factors associated with declining red pine stands, particularly belowground herbivory, root colonizing fungi and habitat features affecting predator – prey interactions of bark beetles. Nadir did field work throughout south central and western Wisconsin. He is now an Assistant Professor and Agriculture Canada Chair at the University of Alberta (780) 492- 8693 Nadir.Erbilgin@afhe.ualberta.ca We have ongoing collaboration on the host range and symbiotic relationships of bark beetles.
Nathan Havill conducted his MS on heritable and environmental sources of rapidly induced resistance in Populus, and on ecological aspects of tritrophic interactions. He quantified the net effects of induced resistance on the reproductive fitness of parasitoids, based on both behavioral and developmental components. He then received his doctorate at Yale University. Nathan is now employed by the USDA Forest Service in Hamden, CT; phone 203-230-4320. nhavill@fs.fed.us
Kirsten Haberkern conducted her MS on the guild of beetles and associated fungi colonizing white spruce in the Great Lakes Region. Kirsten minored in Plant Pathology, and worked closely with Barb Illman in the USDA FS Forest Products Laboratory. She conducted her field work in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Alaska. She is currently a high school science teacher in New Jersey. kirstenh78@yahoo.com
Richard Hofstetter worked as an undergraduate in Ken Raffa's lab, and then conducted his MS on the behavior and ecology of the egg parasite Ooencyrtus kuvanae. He quantified the roles of wasp density, egg mass size, and host plant species in the orientation, reproductive ecology, and sex ratios of this biological control agent of the gypsy moth. He was subsequently employed by the USDA ARS in Yakima, WA, and then completed doctoral studies at Dartmouth Univ. in collaboration with the USDA Forest Service. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Northern Arizona University. 928) 523-6452 Rich.Hofstetter@nau.edu
Rebecca Hoffman Gray worked as an undergraduate in Ken Raffa's lab, and then conducted her MS on the population dynamics of gypsy moth. She investigated the major natural enemies associated with each life stage, how forest habitat affects the performance of these natural enemies. She conducted her field work at the Lakewood/Laona Ranger district of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northeastern Wisconsin. Becky currently works on invasive species for the Wisconsin Dept. Agriculture. 608- 224-4588 rebecca.hoffman@datcp.state.wi.us We have ongoing collaboration on the population dynamics of gypsy moth.
Alex Kendrick studied the chemical ecology of cottonwood leaf beetles. He demonstrated that these insects respond to compounds of both beetle and plant origin, and that the attractiveness of plant compounds increases with herbivory. He also characterized the major natural enemies of cottonwood leaf beetles in hybrid poplar plantations. Alex did his field work near Alexandria Virginia. He is currently a professional web designer. (608) 345-6822 alex@kendrickwebdesign.com
Kier Klepzig conducted his MS and Ph.D. on the interactions among subcortically feeding insects and their associated fungi with conifer defense physiology. His research documented the effects of belowground herbivory on increased susceptibility to feeding by stem feeding bark beetles, and colonization by phytopathogenic fungi. He received the O.N. Allen Memorial Scholarship awarded by the Phytopathological Society of America and Sigma Xi grant. Kier conducted his program in collaboration with Gene Smalley, UW Dept. Plant Pathology. He is currently Assistant Director of Research for the Southern Research Station in Asheville, NC.; phone 828-257-4832. kklepzig@fs.fed.us We have several ongoing collaboration on bark beetle – symbiont interactions.
Steven Krause conducted his Ph.D. research on the role of leaf life history in tree responses to folivory. He described differential responses between larch and pine based on carbon storage patterns. He was awarded a Sigma Xi grant and a co-PI and a USDA Competitive grant. This research was conducted in collaboration with Peter Reich, UW Dept. Forestry. After graduating, Steve served as state gypsy moth coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Trade & Consumer Protection in Madison from 1990 - 1997, and is now with Valent Inc.
James Kruse conducted his MS on the role of host plants in the developmental success of the larval parasite Cotesia melanoscela. He identified differential responses to host plants between two strains of this biological control agent of the gypsy moth, and quantified the effects of host plant switching on larval parasitism and parasitoid success. He subsequently completed a doctoral program at the University of California - Berkeley, and is now a forest entomologist with the US Forest Service in Fairbanks, Alaska. 907-451-2701; jkruse@fs.fed.us
Renee Pinski conducted her MS on the basic biology and host range of an invasive weevil complex affecting northern hardwood forests. Renee’s field work was conducted in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and northern Wisconsin. Her work was in collaboration with Bill Mattson, USDA FS. Renee is now a forest entomologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 275-3231 renee.pinski@dnr.state.wi.us
Jaimie Powell completed a MS on the chemical ecology of conifer - gypsy moth interactions. She quantified the effects of monoterpenes and diterpene acids on gypsy moth, and their distribution within Larix. Jaimie was a WARF Fellow. She completed a Ph.D. within Ken Raffa's lab. Her doctoral research concerned the role of host plant feeding breadth on the relative importance of detoxification, sequestration, and excretion, in contending with plant allelochemicals. She is currently an Instructor and Research Associate at Portland State University. j_s_powell@hotmail.com
Lynne Rieske conducted her MS on the chemical ecology, population sampling, and niche partitioning of pine root weevils. She conducted her Ph.D. on the basic biology of the Introduced Basswood Thrips, and the effects of bud feeding on foliar ethylene emission and subsequent host plant susceptibility to folivores. She was awarded a Sigma Xi grant and a citation of merit from the Association of Women in Science, twice won the Entomological Society of America's outstanding student presentation, and won the ESA's Comstock award for outstanding graduate student. She is currently Professor of Forest Entomology at the Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky; (859) 257-7457. lrieske@ca.uky.edu
Daniel Robison conducted his Ph.D. on the inheritance and mechanisms of resistance in hybrid poplar against lepidopteran defoliators. He received a Sigma Xi grant, and was named outstanding graduate student by the Wisconsin Arborists Society. This work was conducted in collaboration with Brent McCown, UW - Horticulture. Dan is now Associate Dean for Research, College of Natural Resources, Professor of Forestry, and Director of the Hardwood Silviculture Consortium, and Professor, at North Carolina State Univ. 919-515-2890; dan_robison@ncsu.edu
Kimberly Wallin was employed first as a student hourly in Ken Raffa's lab, where she worked on genetic aspects of willow resistance to herbivory. She conducted her MS on host - mediated interactions between feeding guilds, specifically the effects of folivory on subsequent susceptibility to subcortical insect - fungal complexes. She related this work to the chemistry of induced localized defenses in conifers, and to general plant defense theory. Kimberly completed her doctoral studies under Ken Raffa, on the relationship between individual host selection behavior and population dynamics of eruptive species. She conducted work on spruce beetle in Alaska, Canadian Yukon, and Utah. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Environmental and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont: 802-656-2517 kwallin@uvm.edu
Shahla Werner conducted
her MS on how forest management practices affect the biodiversity of ground
beetles. Her field work was in remote stands, largely in the Sylvania
Wilderness area of the Upper Peninsula of MI. She conducted her Ph.D.
on the contribution of an invasive thrips to a forest decline. She identified
asynchrony between native predators and exotic thrips as a likely contributing
factor, Shahla was active in EGSA, was co-chairperson of Wisconsin Chapter
of NOW for 3 years, and was an Insect Ambassador. She worked for several
years as a Forest Entomologist with the Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation & Natural
Resources, and is currently Director of the John Muir Chapter of Sierra Club
in Madison, WI 53703-3201
shahla.werner@sierraclub.org
Postdoctoral Research Associates
Brian Aukema completed
a postdoctoral associate collaboration with the Canadian Forest Service. He
studied the landscape ecology of the mountain pine beetle in British Columbia. He
focused on the relative roles of dispersal and localized reproduction in
bark beetle population dynamics, and on the role of various land tenure designations
on these factors. Brian is currently a research scientist with the
Canadian Forest Service, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University
of Northern British Columbia, in Prince. George. 250-960-5924. baukema@pfc.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca We
have several ongoing collaborations on the population dynamics of bark beetles.
Yasmin Cardoza studied the roles microbial associates play in the ecology of spruce beetles. She identified a novel association, in which bark beetles respond to gallery-invading fungi by egesting secretions that contain antibiotic bacteria. She also identified a novel structure, which she termed ‘nematangia’, in which spruce beetles transport nematodes and yeasts. Yasmin is now an Assistant Professor in the Entomology Department at North Carolina State University. 352-374-5964. cardoza@entomology.wisc.edu
Italo Delalibera studied the gut bacterial symbionts of wood boring beetles. He characterized the flora of several bark beetle (southern pine beetle, pine engraver) and cerambycid (Asian Longhorned beetle, Linden borer) species. He studied compositional changes through the various life stages of Ips pini, and the activity of cellulolytic bacteria in linden borer. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of San Paolo. id24@cornell.edu
Kenneth Hobson studied behavioral mechanisms by which herbivores can gain partial escape from predators that are attracted to prey kairomones. He demonstrated how minor nuances of pheromone stereochemistry and secondary components can allow partial escape while maintaining intraspecific functionality. He developed independent breeding lines of the bark beetle Ips pini, and used these for field bioassays. He also quantified variation in semiochemistry in space and time. He was subsequently an assistant professor at the School of Forestry, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and is currently Museum Curator at the Univ. of Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.
George Hoffman examined the reproductive physiology of pine root weevils, and the role of internal physiology in behavioral responses to host odors. He is now a Research Associate in the Entomology Department at Oregon State University, Corvallis.
David Hunt completed a postdoctoral research program on the chemical and nutritional ecology of pine root weevils. He also related weevil trap data to tree damage in Christmas tree plantations. He is currently a Research Entomologist with Agriculture Canada.
Brian Kopper conducted research on interactions between conifers, bark beetles, and their associated fungi. He characterized effects of Ophiostomatoid fungi on beetle reproduction across a controlled time course. He also characterized effects of diterpene acids on fungal germination and growth, and beetle behavior and survival. Brian is currently an entomologist with USDA AHIS 608-231-9577 Brian.J.Kopper@aphis.usda.gov
Raman Ramachandran quantified the effects of Bt and Bt proteins obtained from genetically engineered E. coli on a variety of lepidopteran and coleopteran defoliators. This work was conducted in collaboration with Brent McCown, UW - Horticulture. Raman is currently a Research Entomologist with Sandoz, Inc. in Bombay, India.
Scott Salom examined the chemical ecology and host selection behavior of pine root weevils. He conducted field behavioral assays using various chemical signals, and also used these lures to study population dynamics. Scott is currently a Professor in the Entomology Department at VPI in Blacksburg, VA, where he has primary emphasis on invasive species. salom@vt.edu
Archana Vasanthakumar examined the gut microbiota of phloem and wood- boring beetles. Using a variety of culture-dependent and molecular methods, she characterized the symbionts of the emerald ash borer and southern pine beetle. She worked in close collaboration with Jo Handelsman, Plant Pathology, and with Yasmin Cardoza in our lab. 608-469-5136 Ava@entomology.wisc.edu